Plate spring



March 5, 1940. T R, WEBER 2,192,390

PLATE SPRING Filed May 16, 1939 A T ORNEY Patented Mar. 5, v1940 2,192,390 PLATE SPRING Theodore R. Weber, Latrobe, Pa., assignor tov American Locomotive Company, New York, N. Y., a rcorlmration of New York Application' May 16, 1939, serial'No. 273,878

' 4 Claims.

This invention relates to plate springs and more particularly to springend clips therefor.

The object of the invention `is to' provide a replaceable self-retaining spring end clip, having a bearing face for supporting a `spring hanger, which may be assembled with thespring, or disassembled, at any time by a longitudinal sliding movement over the end of the spring main plate,

and is heldin place on the spring against accidental removal by means which do not prevent its removal when desired.

lOther and further objects of and advantages achieved by the present invention will be apparent from the following description of an approved l embodiment thereof and the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this application, Figure l is a side elevation of a semielliptic spring embodying the present invention;

20 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spring, the spring end clip at the right hand side of the spring beingremoved; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the spring end clip;` Fig. 4 is an end View of the clip, the adjacent plates being indicated in dot and dash lines; Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the clip; and Fig. 6 is .a side elevation,y similar to Fig. 1, of a portion of the spring showing the method of assembling the clip with the spring and removing it therefrom.

The spring of thepresent invention, indicated by the reference numeral I, is in the main a conventional semi-elliptic 'spring' consisting of a plurality of plates secured together by a spring band i 2. In accordance with thepresent invention, the P5 inain plate 3 has a portion cut away at each side of each of its end portions providing a tongue i of a reduced width at each-endl of the plate. The sides 5 of the tongue are shown parallel to each other and to the sidesof the spring and are con- 40 nected to the'sides of the body portion of the main plate by rounded edges 1. VIt will be understood', however, that the sides 5 need not be parallel but may, for instance, converge outwardly toward the adjacent end of the spring if desired.

The reduced tongue extends to the end of the spring l adjacent thereto.

The second or inner plate`8 of the spring is also modiiied -in accordance with the present inven tion. It has a portion 9 disposed under and adjacent each tongue 4, each portion 9 being `of a Width less than the Width of the adjacent tongue. The portions 9 are shorter than the tongues 4 and are spaced each from the adjacent end of the spring, thereby leaving end portions I0 between each portion 9 and the adjacent end yof the (creci- 54) l ,tuff

spring. The sides I I of each portion 9 areshown parallel to each other and to the sides S'but they maybe of any desired shape. The sides II of each portion 9 are connected to the sides of the body portion I2 of theinner plate and to thesides "75' of the end portion i adjacent thereto by rounded edges I3. y I l The end portions I (I are shown of the same width as the body portion I2, but it is only necessary for the purpose for which they are employed, that they be Wider than the portion 9. These end portions hold the spring end clip, which is carried on the tongue 4, as will later be more fully v described, from moving loutward away from' the spring. However, if other means are provided 515 for this purpose, the end portions may be eliminated and the portion 9 may extend to the end of the spring similarly to the tongue fi. Such other means might be, `for instance, a flange turned up from the end edge of the inner plate -suiliciently so that when the ends of the main vand inner plates are in engagement, the iiange would overlap the outer edge of the clip.

Each tongue and adjacent portion 9 form a portion Iii T-shape in cross section. If desired, 25 the portion 9 need not be provided on the second plate of the spring but may be, for instance, on the third or fourth plate. In such a case, the plates intervening would be shaped similar to thel `main plate so that a 'I' shape port-ion would still `30 be present. The T-shape is shown as formed of straight lines at right angles to each other, but it will be understood that the shape need only be substantially T-shape in cross section and that, for instance, a V-shape could be employed. The '35 term T-sliape is therefore employed in the speci iication and claims in its broad sense and is erni ployed to designatethe tongue and groove connection permitting longitudinal sliding between the spring end clip and the end portion ofA `the ilo spring, as willI later be described.

The spring end clip I5 consists of the usual body portion I6 havinga hanger bearing outer face Il; and an inner spring-engaging face I8. An angular iiange I9 projects from the inner face I8 at i5 each longitudinal side ofthe clip, having' a vertical leg 2U perpendicular to the inner face I 8 and a horizontal leg 2I parallel to the face i8. The legs 2l are' directed'toward each other and with the legs 2U and the'portion of the face I8 adjacent 50 9 to permit proper intertting of the parts. The corner formed by the junction of the leg 20 with the face I8 is rounded out forming a fractureresisting groove 22. 'Ihe corners of the legs 20 and 2l are also rounded off as shown in Fig. 5.

The anges I9 thus form, with the inner face I8, a T-shape groove 23 running longitudinally of y to the main plate so that the tongue lIi will slide into the grooves formed by the legs 20, 2I and the inner face I8. The clip is movedalong the tongue toward the band 2 until the flanges I9 are directly above the respectivev cut-out portions providing the portion 9. The Wedge is then Withdrawn, and the main plate end portion thereupon springs back upon the inner plate. The anges I9 will then be disposed one on each side of the portion 9, with their outer transverse sides opposed to theadjacent sides of the end portion I0, the end portion I0 being Wide enough to provide parts overlapping the flanges I9. The clips will thus be held against vertical displacement movement by the legs 2 from outward longitudinal displacement movement by the end portions I0 and from inward longitudinal displacement movement by the ends of the body portions 6 and I2 of the main and inner plates which are; adjacent the inner transverse sides of the flanges I9.

If it is necessary to remove the clip for any reason, such as to replace it, the main and inner plates are separated by the wedge a once more and the clip slid olf in an obvious manner.

When the portion 9is formed on a plate inward of the plate 8, as has already been mentioned, the wedge will be'inserted 'between the plate containing the portion 9 and the adjacent plate outwardly therefrom, the assemblage and removal of the clip being effected in a manner similar to that already described.

As the main plate does not serve to retain the clip from sliding oil" the spring, fracture of this main plate will not result in loss of the clip by such sliding off. Y

While there has been hereinbefore described an approved embodiment of this invention, it will be understood that many and various changes and modifications in form, arrangement of parts and details'of construction thereof may be made without departing from the spiritofthe invention and that all such changes and modications as fall within the scope of the appended claims are `contemplated as a part of this invention.

' The invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

lsaid spring.

1. A plate spring comprising a plurality of plates secured together by a spring band; and a spring .hanger clipy carried by said spring and seated on the main plate at an end thereof, said clip having a longitudinal T-shape groove and said spring having a portion, T-shape in cross section, disposed in said groove whereby said` and seated on` said main plate at an end thereof,

said 'clip having a longitudinal T-sh'ape groove and said spring having a portion, T-shape in cross section, disposed in said groove whereby said clip is secured to said spring against vertical l vdisplacement movement relative thereto, said in ner plate having means cooperating with said clip securing'saidclip to said spring against longitudinal displacement movement relative there-k to.y l

3. Av plate 4spring comprising an outer plate having end portions reduced inr Width from the outer ends of 'said plate inward to apredetermined extent to form a tongue at each end of said plata,` andan inner plate: having portions reduced in width from the Width of said-tongues and disposed oneadjacent each of saidtongues, each providing, with said tongue adjacent thereto, a portion T-shape in cross section, said inner plate having springhanger clip-retaining parts; and a spring hanger clip disposed over each of said T-shape portions and seated on said outer plate, said clips each having a T-shape lon.-

gitudinal groove cooperating with saidy 'T-shape portion adjacent thereto, whereby said clips are held against vertical displacement movement relative to said spring, said retaining parts coacting with said clips and holding said clips against longitudinal displacement movement relative to 4.'A plate spring comprising an outer plate having end portions` reduced in Width from the outer ends of said plate inward to a predeterminedy extent to form a tongueat each end of said plate, and an inner plate having portions reduced in width from the width of said tongues and disposed one adjacent each of said tongues,

each providing, with said tongue adjacent thereto, a portion T-shape in cross section, said inner plate reduced portions each beingspaced,A from the adjacent endwof said innerV plate to provide end portions for said inner lplate of a width greater than the wdth'of saidfinner plate reduced portions; and a spring hanger clip dislposed over eachof said T-shape portions and` clips against longitudinal movement thereto- Ward relative to said spring.y

` THEVODRER.. WEBER. 

